Five enterprising Qubcois have found a bit of a loophole in the LSA rules. The Ecoflyer from Explorer Aeronautique meets all the LSA rules yet it’s big enough to seat four inside for dinner. The rather portly looking fuselage contains over 150 cubic feet of baggage space and has a cushioned rear area for sitting or sleeping (when not flying). The front seats reverse and a rear door for entry makes it as much a camper as an aircraft.
The primarily composite Ecoflyer will be available with either the 100-hp Rotax 912 or the 120-hp Jaribu engine. The company’s chief engineer, David Rancourt, says they expect an empty load of about 750 pounds in the final product. With its 30-gallon tanks filled, that still leaves 390 pounds for all your camping gear. Far from vapor-ware, the company flew two prototypes to Oshkosh (one with each engine option) and is progressing on flight testing. They hope to have production models by late next year.
